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SME employees 'work when sick'

Published On 9 March 2007 at 15:04:11

Most workers at UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) go into work even when they are ill, according to new research.

A study carried out at Cardiff University found that 95 per cent of workers, including those employed by SMEs, admit that they go into work when they are sick.

Because of this, over half (51 per cent) of the UK's workforce think that their workplace is an unhealthy environment.

"With so many people going to work when ill, it is inevitable that many of us will come into contact with germs during the working day," said Professor Ron Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University.

"Employers also have a duty of care and if more workplaces were to take active steps to maintain the health of their workforce, I believe we would see far fewer instances of colds and flu."

Recently, the government asked business leaders to help them define what constituted 'good work'.

The government said that research had proved that 'good work' was beneficial for the physical and mental wellbeing of staff, but there were few clear guidelines for SMEs as to what this phrase meant.

 

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